DraftHistory.com

Mobile Quarterbacks Have Seized the Day

By Chris Malumphy

The day of the pure pocket passer has come to an end. Mobile quarterbacks are not the wave of the future, they have already taken over the game. Five of the top seven rushing quarterbacks started games in the 2013 playoffs. The only two immobile quarterbacks among the playoff starters are future Hall of Fame pocket passers Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, who also happen to be the oldest starting quarterbacks in the league. Philip Rivers and Drew Brees are two others who don't carry the ball down field much, but both are mobile enough to keep plays alive in the backfield. When the retirements of Manning and Brady inevitably occur, we may not see the likes of a pure pocket passer again.

The new breed of mobile quarterback is best exemplified by Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Even Alex Smith and Andrew Luck compile significant rushing yards. And that's not to overlook Robert Griffin, who is one year removed from the playoffs, Michael Vick who now plays understudy to Nick Foles, and Geno Smith who may, or may not, have a big future. And the Raiders can only dream of how far their star would rise if Terrelle Pryor could only pass half as well as he runs with the ball.

2013 Rushing Yards for Quarterbacks
Name Team Rushing Passing
Att Yds Avg TD Att Comp Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sacked Rating
Cam NewtonPanthers1115855.3647329261.733797.124134388.8
Terrelle PryorRaiders835766.9227215657.417986.67113169.1
Russell WilsonSeahawks965395.6140725763.133578.226944101.2
Colin Kaepernick49ers925245.7441624358.431977.72183991.6
Robert Griffin IIIRedskins864895.7045627460.132037.016123882.2
Alex SmithChiefs764315.7150830860.633136.52373989.1
Andrew LuckColts633776.0457034360.238226.72393287.0
Geno SmithJets723665.1644324755.830466.912214366.5
Michael VickEagles363068.521417754.612158.6531586.4
Ryan TannehillDolphins402386.0158835560.439136.724175881.7
Ryan FitzpatrickTitans432255.2335021762.024547.014122182.0
Nick FolesEagles572213.9331720364.028919.127228119.2
E.J. ManuelBills531863.5230618058.819726.41192877.7
Andy DaltonBengals611833.0258636361.942967.333202988.8
Jake LockerTitans241556.5218311160.712566.9841686.7
Christian PonderVikings341514.4423915263.616486.9792777.9
Joe FlaccoRavens271314.9161436259.039126.419224873.1
Aaron RodgersPackers301204.0029019366.625368.717621104.9
Jay CutlerBears231185.1035522463.126217.419121989.2
Jason CampbellBrowns141077.6031718056.820156.41181676.9
Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers27993.7158437564.242617.328144292.0
Chad HenneJaguars27772.9050330560.632416.413143876.5
Case KeenumTexans14725.1125313754.217607.0961978.2
Philip RiversChargers28722.6054437869.544788.2321130105.5
Matthew StaffordLions37691.9263437158.546507.329192384.2
Josh McCownBears13695.3122414966.518298.213111109.0
Matt Flynn Raiders / Packers20653.3020012462.013927.0852485.7
Kellen ClemensRams23642.8024214258.716736.9872178.8
Matt CasselVikings18573.2125415360.218077.11191681.6
Matt RyanFalcons17553.2065143967.445156.926174489.6
Scott TolzienPackers55511.01905561.17178.015366.8
Thad LewisBills24522.211579359.210927.0431881.0
Drew BreesSaints35521.5365044668.651627.9391237104.7
Chase DanielChiefs14523.70382565.82486.511281.9
Brandon WeedenBrowns12443.7026714152.817316.5992770.3
Tony RomoCowboys20381.9053534263.938287.231103596.7
Matt SimmsJets5377.40311651.61565.011463.4
Mike GlennonBuccaneers27371.4041624759.426086.31994083.9
Eli ManningGiants18362.0055131757.538186.918273969.4
Blaine GabbertJaguars9323.60864248.84815.6171236.0
Sam BradfordRams15312.1026215960.716876.41441590.9
Matt McGloinRaiders11272.5021111855.915477.388676.1
Matt SchaubTexans5244.8035821961.223106.510142173.0
Josh FreemanBuccaneers5204.00944345.75716.123759.3
Josh FreemanBuccaneers5204.00532037.71903.601140.6
Tom BradyPatriots32180.6062838060.543436.925114087.3
Jeff TuelBills3175.70592644.13095.213245.1
Brian HoyerBrowns6162.70965759.46156.453682.6
Kirk CousinsRedskins4143.501558152.38545.547558.4
Kyle OrtonCowboys188.00513364.73987.822085.3
Carson PalmerCardinals2730.1057236263.342747.524224183.9
Brock OsweilerBroncos320.70161168.8955.900284.1
Tarvaris JacksonSeahawks410.31131076.915111.6100140.2
T.J. YatesTexans100.00221568.21135.102242.4
Matt HasselbeckColts2-2-1.0012758.313010.801061.1
Curtis PainterGiants3-2-0.7016850.0573.602119.0
Matt BarkleyEagles2-2-1.00493061.23006.104344.6
Peyton ManningBroncos32-31-1.0165945068.354778.3551018115.1